The place of the Great Mosque of Tlemcen: the paradox between patrimonialisation and appropriation

Abstract

The Great Mosque of Tlemcen is a unique case, as it is one of the few mosques dating back to the Almoravid period that is almost intact. It has evolved in a constantly changing space and now has a conjoined public square, following an occidental configuration, which is quite rare. The size of this square suggests that it could be put to use as an additional vector for the valorisation of the mosque, but the current situation is different. This added space, introduced by occidental culture, creates a dual architectural language with several other buildings that mark all the layers of evolution in the urban fabric. Apart from its religious function, this mosque used to play the role of a covered public square, a role that has eroded over time. The aim of this research is to analyse the relationship between the building and its surroundings, as well as the population’s perception of this relationship. Additionally, the research is intended to highlight changes in the perception of the Great Mosque of Tlemcen’s public square over time, depending on historical, political, and social contexts. This research relies on an approach that combines different methods, including a thorough analysis of historical, cartographic, and legislative documents. Through this approach, we were able to conduct a comparative analysis with other similar cases. Finally, field research allowed us to understand the relationship between space and society. Despite the legal recognition of the surroundings as a historical monument, this status is not widely perceived and integrated into the population’s sense of heritage space. This is reflected in private and even public actions, despite the instrumentalisation of this heritage status, with appropriations of protected space that occur outside of regulations and become part of the landscape expression of the building in its environment.